Music icon Rick Springfield to perform in Oak Ridge June 22

Secret City Festival organizers are gearing up for the 11th annual community celebration June 21-22. On Thursday, they announced of headline entertainment.

Secret City Festival organizers are gearing up for the 11th annual community celebration June 21-22. On Thursday, they announced of headline entertainment.

Pop, rock music icon Rick Springfield will bring his unstoppable energy and unforgettable songs, which have provided the soundtrack for many generations, to the Concert Main Stage on Saturday, June 22, at A.K. Bissell Park. The Saturday Night concert is sponsored by CROET and Pro2Serve.

Springfield has sold 25 million albums worldwide, including 17 Top 40 hits, such as “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love Somebody,” and “Human Touch,” as well as earning a 1981 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal for his No. 1 single hit “Jessie’s Girl.” His passion for writing and performing songs, as well as playing guitar, comes through loud and clear on his new album, “Songs for the End of the World,” which features bonus digital content available through a specialized app, fan vocals and a special 30-minute audio collection.

Springfield has also written and recorded a new song, “The Man that Never Was,” with Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters/Nirvana, as well as being a featured guest in Grohl’s critically acclaimed documentary about “Sound City,” the fabled San Fernando Valley recording studio. In addition to his nonstop music career, Springfield recently made a special guest appearance as Dr. Noah Drake on “General Hospital,” for the daytime drama’s 50th anniversary.

According to Joye Montgomery, Arts Council of Oak Ridge representative and a member of the festival’s executive committee, ticket-holders can expect a fun and exciting show featuring the talent of a pop genre icon.

“We are looking forward to seeing Rick Springfield perform and share his musical ability and unique enthusiasm for his fans. I think this concert will be one of our most popular events,” said Montgomery.

Knoxville-native rock ‘n’ roll band The Dirty Guv’nahs will bring their signature sound to the Concert Main Stage on Friday, June 21. The Friday Night concert, sponsored by Lamar Dunn and Associates (LDA Engineering), also features Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam as the opening act.

Concert tickets go on sale May 6 at the Early Bird price of $17. The Early Bird price will end June 10, when all tickets will be $20. Tickets may be purchased online at www.secretcityfestival.com, by phone at (865) 482-4432 or in person at the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The 11th annual Secret City Festival is presented by the City of Oak Ridge, the Oak Ridge Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Arts Council of Oak Ridge. The festival features WWII displays and memorabilia, special events at the American Museum of Science and Energy, a children’s area, arts and crafts vendors, nationally known concert entertainment and the Living History demonstration, “Life on the Front Lines of WWII, A Soldier’s Life.”

Visit www.secretcityfestival.com for more information about the festival, event details and the latest news updates. Check out the Secret City Festival facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecretCityFestival. For more information about Rick Springfield, visit www.rickspringfield.com.

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